Getting Started on First Bow!

[snag]

I went to the Woodcrafts store in town. Bought a pretty thick scraper and something to hold it in.
Man, you could spend some money in that place! I have the furrier's rasp that wasn't so graciously
given to me. So, I'm looking forward to pulling the stave out and drawing some lines and taking wood
off this weekend.  Since it's going to be raining all weekend here in Oregon it seems like a good time
to do it!  If it isn't too embracing I will post a picture.

[Gordon]

Good luck Dave. Let us know if you run into any problems. There are plenty of good folks on this site who will be happy to help you.

[snag]

Hi Gordon.  Yes, I sure will.  Thanks, David

[recurve shooter]

well, i have yet too make a real good bow, but i can deffinently tell ya what NOT to do, 

[George Tsoukalas]

My site may l help you get started. Jawge
http://mysite.verizon.net/georgeandjoni/

[deerhunter97370]

Snag just remember to take your time and pay attention to detail. Thats my prblem I get in a hurry sometimes. Good Luck Joel

[radius]

Here's a quote I found in the Traditional Bowyer's Bilble, Volume I, in Jim Hamm's chapter called "Tillering":

"The best way to go at making your first bow is without hope, but with persistence."

How do you like that?

A few lines later, Jim gives us the magic formula:  "Take off wood where the limb doesn't bend enough, and leave alone the areas where it bends too much."

There you go:  You now have all you need.

[recurve shooter]

i believe that there is a part in there where it says something along the lines of "take off ten strokes with the rasp off of each lemb, then floor test it. remember, if you ever say to your self, " im just gonna take off 30 strokes and get alot of this wood off", carefully put away your tools, fill a large bucket with water, and stick your head in it." if anyone els knows exactly what im trying to say, post it. its something like that.

[radius]

you got it word for word, i think...and he goes on to say, "because you're well on your way to making a 30 pounder instead of a 60 pounder..."

[recurve shooter]

yeah, i forgot that part. 

[snag]

Good advice with the take it slllooowww. I have never gotten into trouble by taking it slow and thinking about what I am doing before I do it! Always the other way around. Thanks for the reminder.

[radius]

but don't forget this advice by Tim Baker (the last quotes were by Jim Hamm or Ron Hardcastle, I can't remember exactly who):

Tim says once you know exactly how much wood you want to take off and where (to get you to floor tiller stage)...then why wait?  Cut it off! Hack it off!  Burn it off!  Do whatever you have to do to get you to the good part:  tillering...the actual creation of a bow from a stick...

Of course, when it's your first bow, you don't know how much is enough...so leave yourself some room for errors...but if you are already a woodworker, maybe you have some good tools and some good skills...

draw your lines and waste no time!

[Pappy]

Great to have you Snag,good luck and be sure and show us the progess.It will be
fun.
   Pappy

[DanaM]

Remove everything thats not a bow Good luck eh!

[StanM]

Hey Dave,

I'll be busy with school until about the middle of June, but after that I don't think we're too far apart and you are more than welcome to come down to my shop and fiddle around with bows.  Just keep in touch.

Stan